Adv Design: Urban Design

Spring 2017

Considered by many the highest achievement of civilization, cities embody the values and aspirations of the societies that create them. Cities are complex cultural artifacts where many forces come together. Austin is no different. The forces at play in the debate over Austin’s growth tend to be polarizing views about the critical issues that shape our city: those in favor of more roads vehemently oppose those in favor of mass transit like commuter rail, those in favor of higher density collide with neighborhoods that resist change, condo dwellers preach against suburban sprawl, environmentalists clamor against developers, developers clamor against Austin notoriously difficult regulatory environment, and so on.